Amanda’s long cancer battle

Hey everyone!

My name is Courtney and I am lucky enough to call Amanda my friend. I have started a fundraiser to help offset loss of income and increased costs for travel to treatment for my friend, Amanda Ellis. Amanda is a supportive Navy wife of over 10 years. Her husband Michael currently serves at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington state, and their four children are constantly on the go in sports and activities in the community. Amanda is a small business owner and has a very busy and in demand salon on the island called Clipz, LLC.

In August, 2019, Amanda was diagnosed with uterine cancer and had a partial hysterectomy later that year to treat the invasive cancer. Shortly after, Amanda was also diagnosed with lupus and Hashimoto’s disease, which complicated her recovery. Unfortunately, in January 2021 Amanda was diagnosed with bladder cancer and started BCG immunotherapy at Skagit Regional Clinic, a 45 minute drive off island, where she underwent catheterization every 7-14 days for targeted treatment to the bladder, which left her with frequent urinary tract infections, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. Additionally, Amanda is required to drive the two hour one way trip on a weekly basis to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance for scans using the more sophisticated specialized technology.

I wish I could say that her medical story ended there, but in April 2022, these scans revealed that her cancer had spread to her kidney and it was shown that she has three tumors and four lesions on her kidney. This news devastated Amanda and her family and friends, and the families stress level and financial picture became even more critical. Amanda is currently on a cocktail of medications to treat her medical issues, including chemotherapy, BCG immunotherapy, and targeted radiation. The complications from the types of cancer, the treatments, and the other medical issues she faces have left her body ravaged, exhausted, and at times, barely functional. She has begun to lose her hair, faces exhaustion, extreme fatigue, extreme nausea, depression, hopelessness, and overwhelming feelings of powerlessness, and for such an in control and strong person, this ordeal has challenged her in ways she has never been before.

If you know Amanda, you know that asking for help is extremely difficult, and that is why I am asking for your financial contribution on her behalf. Amanda has lost her own income of over $3000 per month due to having to be at the hospital for treatments four days a week. She spends upwards of $300 a week on gas to get to and from appointments, and she still has to care for her four growing boys. I understand that many peoples financial picture is difficult as well, but any contribution, however small, would be greatly appreciated.

Amanda has a long road ahead of her, but with her family, friends, and a wonderful Navy community, I know we can rally around them and meet or surpass this goal. If you are looking for a way to support your military, this is one very practical way to do it as Michael’s Expeditionary Squadron is always at the ready to serve our country, and Amanda’s treatments will continue based on whether or not the lesions and tumors respond to the treatments.

On behalf of the Ellis Family, Amanda, Michael, Riley, Avery, Andrew, and Ashton, I sincerely thank you.

Courtney Vaira